Combined ear and tooth pick



(No Model.)

F. E. ROOKSTROH. COMBINED EAR AND TOOTH PICK.

No. 590,280. Patented Sept. 21,1897.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK E. ROCKSTROH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINED EAR AND TOOTH PICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,280, dated September 21, 1897. Application filed February 15, 1897. Serial No. 623,545. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. ROCK- sTROH, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Combined Far and Tooth Pick, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for removing obstructing matter from between the teeth or from the ears and aims to provide in a single article means for effecting both ends, the article consisting of a sheath or handle and a blade, the latter being removably connected at'either end with the handle and having a terminal portion pointed to provide a toothpick and having the other eX- tremity made rounding to be used as an earpick without effecting injury to the organ.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description. 7

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention and adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combined ear and tooth pick constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing the blade reversed. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the blade. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of the sheath or handle.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by the same reference-characters.

The sheath or handle 1 is tubular and is preferably constructed of sheet material rolled upon itself into the required form and having one end closed and the opposite end open and flattened for the reception of the blade 2. A side of the flattened portion is split longitudinally, as shown at 3, to admit of the holder expanding when forcing the blade therein, whereby the tendency of the separated parts to regain their normal condition will serve to grip the edges of the blade and retain the latter in place against accidental slipping.

The holder or sheath may have any required form in cross-section at its closed end and for the greater part of its length, but the open end must be flattened in order to receive the blade and hold the same from turning and secure a neat fit therewith.

The blade 2, which may be of whalebone, ivory, metal, celluloid, or other composition, has one end pointed, as shown at 4., to provide a toothpick and has its opposite end made rounding to form an ear-pick, the sides adjacent to the rounded end having short grooves or channels 5 in order to provide the cavity or recess essential for retaining the obstructing matter when removed. The blade is bulged or expanded laterally in the direction of its Width, as shown at 6, in order to secure it within the handle or sheath by a wedgin g action, said widened portion serving to expand the flattened end of the handle when the blade is thrust therein. The expanded portion 6 is located near the rounded end of the blade, thereby allowing the blade to be sharpened at the pointed end when worn.

When carrying the article in the pocket, the I pointed end of the blade is thrust into the handle, thereby protecting the point and preventing injury to the pocket of the garment in which the device is placed and to the hand when reaching into the pocket.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is In a toilet article of the character set forth, a handle having an end portion open, flattened and split, and a blade removably fitted within the flattened end of the handle and having-a bulged or expanded portion to be secured by a wedging action between the parts of the handle upon opposite sides of the split, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK E. ROCKSTROH.

Witnesses:

ADOLPH BRADY, BENJAMIN GRoEscHEL. 

